Grape Salad Recipe
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This delicious Grape Salad Recipe makes an easy and delicious side dish or dessert. Creamy, crunchy, and made with just 5 ingredients, including juicy grapes. It has been a family favorite for years!

Grape salad is one dish I could always guarantee would be served at our southern family reunions when I was growing up. I’ve made this recipe for my own family and friends for so many years. Creamy and delicious, each bite of this southern salad has a fresh burst of sweet grapes and crunchy nuts combined with a tangy dressing. It’s so easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser!
This grape salad recipe is a nostalgic side dish or dessert featuring fresh, juicy grapes with a sweet and tangy, creamy dressing topped with a bit of brown sugar. It’s just perfect for luncheons, family meals, holidays, picnics and more! You’ll love how simple it is to make and how scrumptious it tastes!
How to Make Grape Salad
You only need a few ingredients and a few minutes to make this dish! Here’s how you’ll make it.
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
Grapes – I use a mixture of different colors of seedless grapes – red, green, and black. The key is ensuring the grapes are as fresh and sweet as possible. The sweet, juicy grapes enhance the tart and creamy dressing. You can use your grapes whole or slice in half if you prefer.
Cream Cheese – Softened to room temperature to make the dressing.
Sour Cream – This combines with the cream cheese to add a bit of tang to the dressing.
Vanilla Extract – I love to use my homemade vanilla extract, but you can use another quality vanilla extract if you choose.
Brown Sugar – The recipe doesn’t call for much, but you can adjust depending on preference and the sweetness of your grapes.
Roasted Pecans – You can omit in case of nut allergy (or if taking to a party where that is unknown) but can include toffee bits as a replacement if you wish.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Grapes. ย Wash and dry your grapes, and then add them to a large mixing bowl.
Make the Dressing. In another smaller bowl, mix together your softened cream cheese and sour cream. Next, pour in a bit of vanilla extract. (The vanilla adds so much flavor!) Mix well.
Combine Grapes, Dressing, and Chill. Add the dressing to your grapes. Mix well to ensure all of your grapes are coated. Then, cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for eight hours to chill and set.
Add the Topping.ย Before serving, remove from the refrigerator and top with the brown sugar and optional toppings of pecans or toffee bits, if using.
Serve Cold. Grape salad is best served cold, which makes it a refreshing treat throughout the warmer months.
Storage Tips
To store: Wrap well or add to an airtight container. This keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, making it a great make-ahead recipe perfect for serving at any gathering.
More Favorite Salad Recipes
Here’s my recipe for Grape Salad. I hope you make it soon! It’s perfect for bridal and baby showers, tailgating, picnics, reunions, and everything in between!
Grape Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups seedless grapes, washed, dried, with stems removed
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar, depending on the sweetness of your grapes
- 1/2 cup roasted pecans
Instructions
- Add grapes to a large bowl. Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Pour over grapes and stir until well-coated.
- Refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
- When ready to serve, remove from the refrigerator and top with brown sugar and toasted pecan pieces, if using. Serve cold.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
love it! super simple and so good
Thank you, Debbie. I’m thrilled that you love this easy, simple grape salad recipe.
How much sugar do you add in Step 1? I don’t see It in the ingredients list.
Nancy, look at the recipe for the 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar listed after the vanilla and before the pecan in the Ingredients list. I hope you enjoy the salad.
Nancy, look at the recipe for the 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar listed after the vanilla and before the pecans in the Ingredients list. I hope you enjoy the salad.
We love this grape salad but I made a little change. I use vanilla greek yogurt in place of the sour cream. It’s a delicious substitution and healthier I believe.
That sounds delicious, Debbie! xo
Loved this as a kid!! Still love it!! Yum! Thanks for reminding me!
I’m thinking of making this salad for my little girl’s birthday party. It seems like it would make a lot (asking for 4 lbs of grapes.) How many people would you say that this salad would serve? Also because I’m hoping kids will eat it, should I cut the grapes in half? Thanks!
I have never made this before, but I think I will change that today. Honey and grapes, it must be rally tasteful. Perfect recipe for this hot weather. Thanks a lot!
Thanks, Rachel. I think the this version has just the right about of cream, but still lets those grapes shine! Hope you have a great weekend!
What a refreshing recipe! Perfect for those upcoming warm days & nights! Thanks for sharing.
Oh yes! I hope you enjoy it and have a great Friday, Robin.
Oh! My! Oh! My! That sounds fantastic..it would make a great recipe for keeping in the fridge to snack on!! So many suggestions for add-ins it would be like a different salad a week!!!!! We used to have the pineapple salad often, but somehow it fell thru the crack..will have to make it again, and the pear salad. This is one way to get more fruit in our diet. Thanks so much!!! Have a great weekend!!!!
Thanks so much, Mary. It is great to just have in the refrigerator for snacking! I can’t wait to hear how you like it. Hope you have a great weekend.
That recipe looks so good and I have never tasted it. How many tablespoons is that for the two ounces?
Thanks so much! 2 ounces = 4 tablespoons. Hope you enjoy it!